Pakistan asks India to lift tariff, non tariff barriers

Against the backdrop of government’s fresh decision of granting most-favoured nation (MFN) status to India, Pakistan has decided to ask India to lift tariff and non-tariff barriers.

According to a senior official, after lifting tariff and non-tariff barriers form Indian side that exist on its exports of different products including cement and textile only then Pakistan would allow imports of Indian goods nearly 2,000 included in its positive list relating to India.

Trade talks between Pakistan and India kicked off for the implementation of the trade decisions earlier taken by the prime ministers of both countries on the sideline of the SAARIC summit.

The visit followed the Pakistani cabinet’s decision on November 2 to grant MFN status to India, reciprocating a move taken by New Delhi in 1996.

“The cabinet gave its full approval and also mandated the commerce ministry to achieve complete normalisation of trade” with India, Commerce Secretary Zafar Mahmood told the meeting in New Delhi.